Our yoga teachers and studios have been adaptable and ingenious, finding new ways to connect and to continue teaching and supporting their students. Through lock-downs, tech issues and learning to give adjustments virtually over zoom. This month we’re shining a light on them! Throughout January we will feature studios and chat to teachers here on the blog, all in the spirit of celebrating those that have kept us grounded over the past year. Meet Yoga teacher Lexi Elven below.
Can you tell us a little bit about yourself?
Hello, I’m Lexi Elven, I first took a yoga class 17 years ago in 2003, when I came over to the UK for University from my hometown of Hong Kong. It was, like most people’s experience of yoga in the UK back then, in a gym setting devoid of its spiritual roots and felt more like an exercise class. I was intrigued though as my background was in martial arts and dance and I felt yoga sat somewhere in that sphere of activities. So I kept practicing yoga and started to see the real parallels. You see, martial arts isn’t about fighting, it’s a way of life; the meditative control of the physical body and mind, as well as harnessing the flow of chi to guide you onto a journey of meditation, self inquiry and (hopefully) enlightenment. Yoga – for me and my practice at least – is very much the same.
I decided to do my 200 hours teacher training to deepen my practice and in 2016 I started Blithe Yoga as a yoga supper club from my home’s front living room. Then opened up the Blithe Yoga Studio in 2018. Blithe Yoga is a welcoming space, providing quality, affordable and accessible yoga for everyone in London’s most diverse community in Stratford; a diversity which is reflected in the teaching faculty.
A love of mental focus as well as the joy of movement, has meant that my classes combine strong asanas (postures) with an energetic and playful spirit, I’m a big believer of learning through play and intuition. As a musician with a keen interest in pranayama and philosophy, I’ve always been fascinated with how the mind and body can benefit from sound-work and meditation. As such in 2019 I undertook 200 hours of Naad Yoga training with Leo Cosendai and became certified during the 2020 pandemic.
My yoga practice and study of yoga has constantly evolved with my life, from an athletic and meditative standpoint, to softening and being pregnant and then giving birth to my two children. Yoga has really proved to be a transformative and constant practice with many facets. I’d love to be a wizened old yogi teaching classes well into my twilight years and I’m sure that iteration of me will have a different practice!
With a year that has been very different, what are some challenges you faced as a yoga teacher in 2020?
The beginning of 2020 started on a high point, we managed to expand the studio into a bigger space, doubling our capacity (which we filled) and I was accepted onto a business accelerator programme to hone in and focus on the growth of what Blithe Yoga was as a business. I then became pregnant…and a worldwide pandemic happened. It was tough to shut our space down with the first big lockdown in march! We have a small but dedicated team of teachers and like many studios we pivoted to live streams. I tried to be as supportive as I could to make sure everyone was happy with their teaching set up and so became tech support when needed. Of course as each month passed I was getting more and more pregnant, I had initially kept my pregnancy a secret – as you do – but as I was teaching 17 classes a week until I was 38 weeks pregnant I eventually had to prepare my students to listen to my cues over watching me demonstrate as I just couldn’t demonstrate some of the asanas towards the later stages of my pregnancy. When we were able to reopen I wanted to make sure all the teachers and students felt as safe and happy as they could be during classes.
When the death of George Floyd triggered a global awakening in racial and social justice the sadness and anger within our community of both teachers and students felt physically tangible. It was important for me as a teacher and studio owner to make sure that we were a safe place to listen and give support to anyone who needed it.
On top of trying to combat the mental health impacts of lockdown and ‘Zoom Fatigue’, managing the variations of rules within lockdowns and multitude of Tiers whilst either being pregnant or having a newborn has felt at times to be learning as a rate of knots.
What has 2020 taught you and are you able to find a silver lining in it all?
Impermanence. From both a personal and business perspective. Don’t take anything for granted, take care of your health and loved ones.
My mother came over from Hong Kong to live with us to help with our second child so we’re currently a multi generational household and we’re very fortunate to be in a part of East London where we have access to large green open spaces. Being able to go out daily with our dog and larger household bubble has been a lifesaver.
From a yoga teaching perspective there were some highs. By moving onto Zoom as an online platform I was able to teach students who were further away than our normal reach. From other parts London and the UK, to Germany, Greece, Switzerland, Hong Kong and Australia. Blithe Yoga partnered with three other independent yoga studios to fundraise for UNICEF’s Yemen campaign and when outdoor events were briefly allowed I managed to organise an intimate garden yoga retreat – which is something I have always wanted to do – where I teamed up with two other teachers and closed the event with a gong bath.
I never thought I would be thankful for Zoom. What initially started off as a necessity to keep Blithe Yoga alive turned into a real way connect with other yogis, like minded groups and activist circles. Sometimes when the loneliness and isolation felt real, the digital connection was gratefully received.
Going into maternity leave during a pandemic was daunting to say the least, but by letting go of some of my control and putting trust into the team of teachers I have around me, I have been able to watch with pleasure behind the scenes our teaching team grow and classes slowly re-establishing and finding their feet again. This has allowed me to spend precious time with my family and new baby and recalibrate how I’d like to see my work/life relationship moving forward.
A very personal highlight for me happened on new year’s eve when one of my closest friends messaged me for an impromptu pregnancy class. She had gone into labour earlier on in the day but her contractions had stopped so she was hoping some yoga would help kick start her contractions again. So I rushed into my son’s bedroom with his bright green elephant iPad, amongst his toys and books, and taught a prenatal yoga class on Zoom in jeans. Sure enough the yoga and relaxation did their work and the contractions restarted and her daughter was born later in the day.
Sometimes the honour of being able to guide students as a teacher in these moments can feel electric and I feel deeply humbled and filled with gratitude that it’s something I’m able to provide.
Where do you find inspiration and motivation?
My mum raised me as a single working mother in Hong Kong who specialised in films and advertising in Hong Kong and is a devout Buddhist. She is a formidable woman who has taught me many things and I’m sure I emulate her in more ways than one.
I’ve learned as I’ve gotten older to be very selective with who I decide to be close to and I have a voracious appetite for learning. If I find something interesting and I want to do it, I try and do it as well as I can. I love the outdoors, travelling the arts and am a big dreamer but I cannot say it better than Angela Bassett: “It’s important to surround yourself with good people, interesting people, young people, young ideas. Go places, learn new stuff. Look at the world with wonder – don’t be tired about it.”.
Any words of wisdom for anyone struggling to stay positive and inspired right now?
As someone who has suffered from depression I want to say this emphatically: Know that you aren’t alone and it’s okay not to be okay. Cry, scream and shout if you need to but please reach out for help when you need it.
From a personal perspective you couldn’t tell me 5 years ago that I would be where I am now. Life is constantly evolving and changing and where I am now is the result of many small decisions, right and wrong paths travelled and failure! A lot of failure. If you feel stuck or that something isn’t working, change your paradigm and perspective. These don’t have to be big shifts, small changes like taking a different route on a walk, reading a new book or trying new food. I’m already researching the next training to take – never stop learning.
When on my latest teacher training with Leo Cosendai he talked about the concept of pursuit of one’s North Star – and what I’ve really taken from this is that actually the destination of the North Star may be lofty and perhaps impossible to reach (in this lifetime if you want to be philosophical about it) but what really matters is the journey in which you take towards that North Star.
Nurture gratitude. It is proven that gratitude can increase the feel-good neurochemicals such as dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin. And studies have shown that gratitude not only helps people feel more positive but when consciously practiced allows for more progress towards their goals.
And finally: Be kind. To others but most importantly, yourself.
To keep up with Lexi follow her on Instagram or visit her website for information on classes and events.
